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OJVRTM

Online Journal of Veterinary Research©

(Including Medical and Laboratory Research)

Established 1994

ISSN 1328-925X

 

 Volume 30 (2): 98-108, 2026.


Fasting and pre-eclampsia in sheep.

 

Calvin SE, Wolf C.

 

The University of Minnesota School(s) of Medicine  and Veterinary Medicine.

 

ABSTRACT

 

Calvin SE, Wolf C., Fasting and pre-eclampsia in sheep, Onl J Vet Res., 30 (2): 98-108, 2026. Ten 1-3 year Dorset ewes bearing multiple lambs during 1st lambing of 2 non-pregnant, 4 pregnant with single lambs and 4 pregnant with triplets were bred to one ram. After mating, fetuses were ultrasounded by 60 and 115 days gestation On day 126, ewes were weighed and blood and urine collected. At day 131, ewes were fasted 24h with free access to water for blood, urine and telemetry blood pressure monitoring under general anaesthesia by catheters every 24-48 hours. During fasting, blood pressure was recorded every 12h and ewes fasted 60h between 137 to 140 days gestation. Pre and post-fast haematology, blood chemistry, urine,  malondialdehyde, fibronectin and insulin-like growth factor were determined. Fasting in ewes pregnant with singletons and triplets did not induce any hypertension, illness or toxaemia. However. The post-fast bilirubin and malondialdehyde levels increased and were positively correlated with fetal number (P < 0.05). Ionized calcium and blood glucose decreased with the largest decrease in triplet ewes whereas cell fibronectin did not change.

 

KEY WORDS - Pre-eclampsia, pregnancy toxemia, sheep diseases, animal models, telemetry blood pressure monitoring systems